Boomerang Kids and Mother’s Health: Do Young Adult Residential Patterns Predict Maternal BMI Trajectories during Midlife?

• In Event: 067 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 06. Life Course Influences on Body Weight

Abstract

Using data from NLSY79 and growth curve models, this paper examines how young adult’s residential biography in their transition to adulthood matters for mothers’ BMI trajectories in midlife. Compared to mothers whose children followed a “normative” leaving home pattern (left and never returned), we find that mothers of the boomerang kids had higher body weight primarily due to their lower sociodemographic status. Mothers to the young adults who never left home had very high baseline body weight but their weight seems to decrease at a faster rate than mothers of the boomerang kids.

Authors

• Zhe Zhang, The Ohio State University

• Corinne Reczek, The Ohio State University

• Cynthia G. Colen, Ohio State University